Cult of Sotek (Vortex) Potentially the most fun I've ever had

SubjectEighteen#6930

I'm only 10 turns into my first CoS campaign on Vortex and I'm absolutely loving it. (Some bad weather knocked out my internet for a few days so I just downloaded the DLC last night.)

I'm really enjoying the increased difficulty by only having access to skink units, and having to fight literal hoards of Skaven early. I was shocked at how many troops Clan Fester started with, including Rat Ogres no less. Something that has really stuck out to me is that because I was so outnumbered and only able to use relatively weak early units, I've actually had to think and fight more tactically than I normally do as the LM. No Saurus means no meat grinder infantry fight and I'm greatly enjoying the difference in play style.

I've even pulled off two ambushes against Clan Fester allowing me to win battles I would have no chance in otherwise. To me this is a big deal because I don't think I've ever once used the ambush stance for any reason, now I wouldn't be surviving without it.

The Red Crested Skinks are surprisingly durable in melee, though they are definitely vulnerable in prolonged fights. I haven't gotten to use all the other units yet, but I really, really, really enjoy the Ark of Sotek which I've combined with the Jungle Swarm ability for some nasty aoe effects. The swarm ability is incredibly useful against all the annoying Skaven skirmishers that are hard to catch even with skinks.

I quite like the Salamanders as well, and they average about 100 kills per battle for me, though man are they made of paper. They go down quick in melee if they get caught. I just wanted to post this in the hopes that the goodwill and enjoyment I'm getting from just one part of the DLC/FLC combo that CA picks up on it and delivers something of this quality again!

For Sotek!

steam_164511531915TqL1vw0

I play them in mortal empires and is a huge joy to see LM as a fun faction.

NobleGunner

Lizard scum. rats strong... yes yes.

RomeoReject#1666

Salamanders are OK on their own, but man, put them in a dedicated fire-army and watch the enemy suffer critical existence failure. A couple of Ancient Salamanders and some Fireleech Bolas is hilarious.

And agreed on the Skink Lords. I tend to treat them more like Assassins than Brawlers. Find a target, take it out, and flee before the enemy closes the gap. Unless they're on an Ancient Stegadon, in which case: Find a target, take it out, and take out everyone who looked in your general direction.

SubjectEighteen#6930

NobleGunner said:

Lizard scum. rats strong... yes yes.

Rat-things perhaps TOO strong.

Jastalll#1030

Yeah, I'm doing a Vortex Skink Moses campaign alongside an Ikit ME one and while the former is a lot more difficult, I'm also a lot more invested in it because every battle is a nail-biting affair while Ikit just effortlessly blasts everything to pieces with his OP ratlings and nukes, which is fun enough but gameplay-wise gets a bit boring.

The Ark of Sotek Bastiladon is the MVP so far. Once I finally finished off Clan Fester, Khalida sneak attacked me with one and a half stacks against my Forced March'd single stack and the only reason I survived is thanks to Old Basty getting 700 kills from all the blobbed up skeletons. That battle literally came down to the wire and I had a ton of fun.

Beast_of_Guanyin#8747

Really looking forward to my playthrough of them.

Jastalll#1030

Vanilla_Gorilla said:

Really looking forward to my playthrough of them.

It's really flavorful. When you complete Stage 1 of the prophecy (claiming 2 provinces), not only does the upkeep penalty to Saurus vanish, but Tehenhauin basically declares a planetary race war against the Skaven, forcing every single Lizardmen faction at war with all the ratspawn, which is really thematic in the Vortex campaign in particular as they are the main enemy.

Helhound#7332

Jastall said:

Vanilla_Gorilla said:

Really looking forward to my playthrough of them.

It's really flavorful. When you complete Stage 1 of the prophecy (claiming 2 provinces), not only does the upkeep penalty to Saurus vanish, but Tehenhauin basically declares a planetary race war against the Skaven, forcing every single Lizardmen faction at war with all the ratspawn, which is really thematic in the Vortex campaign in particular as they are the main enemy.

Being able to confederate Itza early on because of the Skaven vs Lizard feud netting you massive diplomatic points with them also helps tremendously. Catch clan skrye and pestilence between a saurus and a skink place.

Boombastek

Right now i doing ME Ikit.

Legendary/VH, 100 turn. I almost alone fight vs
empire 16 setlement rank 1
Dwarf 14 setlement rank 2
Lothern 21 setlement rank 3
Bretonia 11 setlement rank 4

Mine only Bro is Grimgor, his rank 6

Mine rank 7 with 4 doomstack.
Empire power bar x2 of mine.

Only super strong jezalin, ratling gun, arty and Doomwheel is saving me from fiasko of first losed campaign after 100 turn.

I never thought warp lightning spell so strong, previously i used 2 plague priest and millions summons.

Generic warlock lord had - 80% cooldown on warp lightning, with cost only 3 mana.
Almost 100% of time enemy affected by - 13 attack from passive ability from ruin lore.

And Ikit had 378 dmg from ranged attack (ofc you must remember there 2 guns on Doomwheel). Every battle Ikit had number 1 on kills

AkiAmaz

+1 OP. CA have massively improved LM with this LP.

My campaign has just seen me get the second province, wiping Lybaras in the process. The all out war v Skaven was a great surprise. That is total war.

Now I've got to figure who to go for next. Reckon I'll find me the closest rat and go exterminate it.

uriak

Often difficult campaigns are the most memorable, I did a vanilla and and Belegar dwarf campaigns and the second was a lot of fun and the occasion to do a lengthy AAR.

RikRiorik#9890

It is a fantastic campaign for sure and for me it really highlights how much functionality the new units add to the roster. We can all agree that Skaven got some excellent units but the Lizardmen got some truly fantastic utility as well.

SubjectEighteen#6930

I have to say after getting further into the campaign, I'm a little disappointed at how quickly you get access to Saurus. Don't get me wrong, I love Saurus, but the challenge seems to drop off quite a bit when they aren't super expensive.

AkiAmaz

SubjectEighteen said:

I have to say after getting further into the campaign, I'm a little disappointed at how quickly you get access to Saurus. Don't get me wrong, I love Saurus, but the challenge seems to drop off quite a bit when they aren't super expensive.

Just because you have them you don't have to recruit them. Make the campaign has challenging as you want.

For me I always start rituals as soon as I can as this is a race. Even if my armies ate not positioned to defend the rutual sites.
If another faction gets to the final battle before me then I will quit as I have lost. I will give them the same chance of being victorious as I am - and I always win that battle.
I will not make war on other LM factions which restricts my growth.
I will only recruit blessed Saurus and RoR Saurus units.

That should keep the spice to the end.